Four Hostos administrators were treated to an educational and culturally engaging experience this summer, as part of the College’s annual Professional Development and Study Abroad Program in the Dominican Republic. The three-week program started in in New York City from June 10 to the 24 and continued in the Dominican Republic from June 29 to July 9.
For 30 years, this self-sustaining exchange — a collaboration with Universidad Autonóma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and the Ministry of Education — has been expanding teachers, administrators and students’ knowledge to create curriculum and activities reflective of the growing Dominican student population of New York City public schools and higher learning institutions. The curriculum was created with the help from the Universidad Autonóma de Santo Domingo (UASD), the Ministry of Education of American Supervisors and Administrators (ADASA), Instituto de Formación de Educación Superior Salomé Ureña de Henríquez, and the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. The program is currently administered as a partnership between the Hostos Office of the Associate Dean for Community Relations and the Division for Continuing Educations & Workforce Development’s CUNY in the Heights. The Office of Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez also helped sponsor the program.
Hostos was among the diverse delegation of 18 New York City Department of Education teachers, principals, assistant principals, and guidance counselors. The College was represented by Ana García Reyes, Associate Dean; Seny Taveras, CUNY in the Height Executive Director; Rafael Torres, Hostos Office of Legal Affairs and Official Translator; and John MacElwee, Director of Center for the Arts & Culture at Hostos.
At Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, top scholars lectured program participants, and tours of historical sites were also offered. Three Hostos program participants were also recognized at the National Palace by Vice President of the Dominican Republic Margarita Cedeño de Fernández and Minister of Education Carlos Amarante Baret. NYC DOE teachers honored included Sandra ViscainoArelis Lis, and Jonas De León.
The program closed on August 17, where participants were awarded completion certificates and presentations from their experiences were offered. In addition to the conferring of certificates at the college, the educators also received certificates of program completion by Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo.
MacElwee, who had never visited the Dominican Republic, said meeting with other arts administrators there was an eye-opening experience.
“With Hostos serving a large Dominican community in the South Bronx, it was a wonderful opportunity to engage with that culture and learn about their educational system and practices,” MacElwee said.
NYC DOE Teacher Sandra Vizcaino also highly recommended the program. “This educational program exceeded my expectations with the wealth of knowledge and beautiful experiences I had both here in New York and in the Dominican Republic.”
This program also would not be possible without the support of: Dr. Marcos Charles, Hostos President Dr. David Gómez, Bronx/ Queens Superintendent Juan Mendez, Bronx Community College Administrator Dr. Fenix Arias, CUNY DSI Professor Sarah Aponte, Principal Nancy Diaz, UASD Professor John Sheppard, Professor Jacinto Malespin, Chief Arnaldo Bernabe, Professor Elizabeth Balaguer, NYC DOE Director Socorro Diaz, and NYC DOE Administrator Gilberto García.
For more about the Summer Professional Development in the Dominican Republic program, click
HERE.
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 29 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.